Religious Liberty and the Trump Administration

A Wall Street Journal op-ed in November 2024 argued that a range of federal programs "reflect[] an outdated understanding of the First Amendment that assumes the Constitution requires the exclusion of religious expression from public life and programs." From special education funding and substance abuse programs to work-study programs, federal regulations impose burdens on the participation of religious organizations. What initiatives could the Trump Administration pursue by executive action and agency regulation to remove barriers to religious participation in federal programs? Are such efforts good policy, and are they constitutionally permissible (or are they perhaps even constitutionally required)? The panel will explore the ways in which the Trump Administration might pursue the protection of religious freedom and participation of religious organizations in federally funded programs.

Featuring:

• Prof. Nicole Stelle Garnett, John P. Murphy Foundation Professor of Law, University of Notre Dame Law School
• Edward Tabash, Attorney and Activist, Private Practice
• (Moderator) Rachel N. Morrison, Fellow, Ethics and Public Policy Center

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As always, the Federalist Society takes no position on particular legal or public policy issues; all expressions of opinion are those of the speaker.